Deterrent spring clip

ABSTRACT

A deterrent spring clip which can be added to doors which will seal them when closing and which will not permit door to yield to surreptitious or forcible means. These seals will be expendable and may be opened only with a special tool furnished to authorized personnel.

United States Patent [1 1 Biscardi Dec. 4, 1973 [5 DETERRENT SPRING CLIP 3,462,819 8/1969 Gregoire 287/l89.36 D X 3 494,651 2 1970 F k ali... 29 [75] Inventor: Charles Biscardi Maple Shade 2 394 702 2/1946 Liiidsz; 287 1s9 3 6 3,035,860 5/1962 Bradner.... 292/258 [73] Assignee: Merit Metal Products Corp,

warrmgton Primary ExaminerRiChard E. Moore [22] Filed: Mar. 22, 1972 Assistant ExaminerWilliam F. Pate, Ill pp N 6, 3 Attorney-Robert R. Strack and James A. Eiseman [52] US. Cl. 292/307 R, 287/2092 D, 292/258, [57] ABSTRACT 292/DIG. 32 [51] lllt. Cl 365d 55/04, 865d 55/06 A deterrent Spring p which can be added to doors [58] Fleld 0f Search 292/256.6l, 256.63, which will Seal them when closing and which l not 292/DlG. 32, 307, 322, 258, 288, 256; permit door to yield to surreptitious or forcible means. 287/2092 18936 D; 52/281 285; 220/80 These seals will be expendable and may be opened only with a special tool furnished to authorized per- [56] References Cited Sonne1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 101,172 3/ 1870 Smith et a1 287/2092 D 11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED UEC 41915 sum 2 0F 4 PATENTEUUEE 4191s v 3,776583 SHEET u or 4 DETERRENT SPRING CLIP FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to door sealing devices, and particularly to door sealing devices for boxcar doors, and, more particularly, to a spring clip designed to be attached to boxcar sliding doors which, when closed, will prevent sliding doors from being opened, either forcibly or surreptitiously, by anyone except authorized personnel, and then only by employing a special tool designed for removing said devices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Up to now, sliding doors on boxcars have been secured by conventional locks and hasp and padlock arrangements. This means was generally accepted as providing the necessary protection against unauthorized opening. But current experience has demonstrated that this common and conventional means no longer affords sufficient protection. 1

Rail carriers have been suffering increased losses due to pilferage of their goods while in transit between load point and destination. Conventional locks and padlocks yield readily to force, prying and other means, and no longer provide adequate protection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the general object of this invention to provide a door-sealing device which, after attachment to a boxcar sliding door, may be opened only by a special tool and may not be opened without such a tool. Such a tool is disclosed, for example, in copending application Ser. No. 236,804, filed Mar. 22, 1972 and owned by the same assignee as the present invention.

In accordance with one illustrative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a formed metal clip of such dimension and shape as to conform with both the sliding door and the door frame, said clip gripping firmly both the door and the frame on the closing side so that both door and frame are rendered inseparable by conventional means, forcible 'or otherwise. The clip is provided with a tempered gripping means in the form of tooth-like serrations which, through slight displacement of surface metal, performs a holding action. Design of said clip is such that any attempts to open said door increases the gripping action, holding said door to frame more firmly. Only by applying the correct counter gripping force, as with a special tool, will said secured clip be removable. Removal of said clip will necessarily destroy it, said clip being expendable.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be best appreciated by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the deterrent spring clip, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective'view, sectional, in part, of the closing side of door frame and a sliding door showing deterrent clip in position on door frame at midpoint of frame height;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section through the door frame and lead side of boxcar door, showing the deterrent spring clip in position when the door is completely closed;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section through the door frame and lead side of door showing the deterrent clip just before the door closes, and showing compression and momentary distortion of clip; and

FIG. 5 is a transverse section through the door frame and lead side of door, showing the deterrent slip when an unauthorized person attempts to move door to open position, and showing flexing the clip.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now specifically to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 the deterrent spring clip designated by the numeral 1, with .upper edge showing gripping edge 10.

Although not illustrated, the sides 2 and 3 of the deterrent clip may include U-shaped teeth bent inwardly to contact the adjacent sides of a door frame, providing an anti-creep feature to prevent the clip from sliding down the door frame from its applied position.

Referring to FIG. 2, deterrent clip 1 is shown in position on door stop 6 at midpoint of its height, and side 7 anchors clip 1 to door stop 6. Sides 2 and 3 are parallel to second and third sides of door stop, sides 2 and 3 departing from being parallel to door post to form a U-shape at center point 8 between sides 2 and 3. This permits clip 1 to flex and return to its shape when door 5 is moved toward the open position by other than authorized personnel. Sides 2 and 3, at midpoint of their height, each have small flange 9 extending outwardly to provide gripping for application and removal tool. A variation of the deterrent clip contains no flanges.

Referring to FIG. 3, elevated view of clip 1 is shown in relation to transverse section of door stop 6 and transverse section of door 5, where door is in closed position.

Referring to FIG. 4, elevated view of clip 1 is shown in relation to transverse section of door stop 6 and door 5 just before door 5 is completely closed. Lead edge 1 1 of door 5 depresses side 4 of clip 1 as door 5 moves toward door stop 6. Lead edge 11 continues to depress side 4 of clip 1 until it is free of side 4. U shape formed by sides 2 and 3 of clip 1 flexes to permit side 4 of clip 1 to be depressed. When side 4 is no longer depressed and it returns to original position, U shape between sides 2 and 3 of clip 1 also returns to original position.

Referring to FIG. 5, elevated view of clip 1 is shown in relation to transverse section of door stop 6. When unauthorized person attempts to open door, lead edge 11 of door 5 is engaged by side 4 of clip '1, holding lead edge 11 securely, its holding or looking action increasing when force to open door is increased. Door 5 is thus held securely closed and cannot be opened by forcible or other means until spring clip 1 is removed by its own special tool.

I claim:

1. A door locking device having first and second substantially orthogonal continguous walls, the free edges of each wall having an acute angle inward bend leaving clearance between said free edges, wherein the free edge of said first wall projects slightly towards said second wall and the .projecting portion of said second wall is substantially longer that the projecting portion of said first wall.

2. A door locking device as defined in claim 1, wherein the free edge of said first wall includes means for enhancing the frictional contact between said edge and any adjoining surface.

3. A door locking device as defined in claim 1, comprising a single sheet of resilient material.

4. A door locking device as defined in claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature of the bend in said first wall is greater than the radius of curvature of the bend in said second wall.

5. A door locking device as defined in claim 1, wherein said free edge of the first wall is provided with teeth.

6. A door locking device having first and second substantially orthogonal continguous walls, the free edges of each wall having an acute angle inward bend leaving clearance between said free edge, and including an outward projection from each of said walls between the line of contiguity therebetween and the bends at the end thereof.

7. A door locking system for use in looking sliding doors, comprising in combination, a door jamb, said door jamb including a substantially U-shaped channel opening toward said leading edge, and a locking device comprising first and second substantially orthogonal contiguous walls, the free edges of each wall having an acute angle inward bend, leaving a clearance between said free edges, the length of said walls from the line of contiguity to said bends being substantially the same as the length of the bottom and external leg of said U-shaped channel, whereby said door locking device clips on to the external surface of said U- shaped channel. I

8. A door locking device as defined in claim 7, comprising a single sheet of resilient material.

9. A door locking device as defined in claim 7, wherein the line of contiguity between said walls and the axes of the bend at each free edge, are parallel.

10. A door locking device as defined in claim 7, wherein the free edge of said first wall has an inward bend at an angle that is substantially complementary to the angle of the inward bend of said second wall.

11. A door locking device as defined in claim 7, wherein said leading edge of the door extends into said channel when the door is closed and has a forwardly ex tending portion with a lateral projection at the end, said lateral projection being shorter than the opening of said U-shaped channel, the free edge of said first wall projects slightly toward said second wall and is adapted to bear against the external surface of an internal leg of said U-shaped channel, and wherein the free edge of said second wall projects into the opening in said U- shaped channel, the distance between the free edge of said second wall and the opposing inner surface of said U-shaped channel being less than the length of the lateral projection on the leading edge of said door.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 a 776 a 5 83 Dated December I 197 3 lnventofls) Charles T. Biscardi It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 22 Change "said leading edge" to the leadingedge of a sliding door-- Signed and sealed this 16th day of April l9'ZL (SEAL) Attest:

EDI'JARD M.'E'LETGHBR,JR. C. MARSHALL DAIIN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A door locking device having first and second substantially orthogonal continguous walls, the free edges of each wall having an acute angle inward bend leaving clearance between said free edges, wherein the free edge of said first wall projects slightly towards said second wall and the projecting portion of said second wall is substantially longer that the projecting portion of said first wall.
 2. A door locking device as defined in claim 1, wherein the free edge of said first wall includes means for enhancing the frictional contact between said edge and any adjoining surface.
 3. A door locking device as defined in claim 1, comprising a single sheet of resilient material.
 4. A door locking device as defined in claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature of the bend in said first wall is greater than the radius of curvature of the bend in said second wall.
 5. A door locking device as defined in claim 1, wherein said free edge of the first wall is provided with teeth.
 6. A door locking device having first and second substantially orthogonal continguous walls, the free edges of each wall having an aCute angle inward bend leaving clearance between said free edge, and including an outward projection from each of said walls between the line of contiguity therebetween and the bends at the end thereof.
 7. A door locking system for use in locking sliding doors, comprising in combination, a door jamb, said door jamb including a substantially ''''U-shaped'''' channel opening toward said leading edge, and a locking device comprising first and second substantially orthogonal contiguous walls, the free edges of each wall having an acute angle inward bend, leaving a clearance between said free edges, the length of said walls from the line of contiguity to said bends being substantially the same as the length of the bottom and external leg of said ''''U-shaped'''' channel, whereby said door locking device clips on to the external surface of said ''''U-shaped'''' channel.
 8. A door locking device as defined in claim 7, comprising a single sheet of resilient material.
 9. A door locking device as defined in claim 7, wherein the line of contiguity between said walls and the axes of the bend at each free edge, are parallel.
 10. A door locking device as defined in claim 7, wherein the free edge of said first wall has an inward bend at an angle that is substantially complementary to the angle of the inward bend of said second wall.
 11. A door locking device as defined in claim 7, wherein said leading edge of the door extends into said channel when the door is closed and has a forwardly extending portion with a lateral projection at the end, said lateral projection being shorter than the opening of said ''''U-shaped'''' channel, the free edge of said first wall projects slightly toward said second wall and is adapted to bear against the external surface of an internal leg of said ''''U-shaped'''' channel, and wherein the free edge of said second wall projects into the opening in said ''''U-shaped'''' channel, the distance between the free edge of said second wall and the opposing inner surface of said ''''U-shaped'''' channel being less than the length of the lateral projection on the leading edge of said door. 